Spring-wheel.



H. S. GOVER. SPRING WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED runes, 1914.

Patented se t. 29, 19 14.

nAnnY s. Govnn, or BEL Ain, MARYLAND.

srnme-wnnnn Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedSept. 29, 1914.

Application filed February 25, 1914. Serial No. 820,869. i

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY S. Govnn, a citizenof the United States, residing at Bel Air, in the county of Harford andState of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpring-VVheels: and T do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in spring wheels andresides in the provision of a spring wheel which is simple as toconstruction, and constructed to provide great resiliency anddurability.

An important object of my invention is to provide a spring wheel of thecharacter described which is constructed so that great resiliency isprovided and enabling the use of solid tires with equally as goodresults as obtained with the usual pneumatic tire.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a spring wheel ofthe character described which consists of a plurality of springs thatare operatively connected with spokes and independently adjustable toprovide for their desired tension;

Another important object of my invention is to provide a spring wheel ofthe character described which is formed of a number of sections and thusbeing capable of being readily assembled and disassembled.

A still further important object of my invention is to provide a springwheel 0 the character described which is simple as to construction,strong, durable and cheap to manufacture.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as areillustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the followingspecification and then more particularly claim which is appended heretoand forms a part of this application.

l/Vith reference to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated thepreferred embodiment of my invention as it is reduced to practice, andthroughout the several views of which similar reference numerals des1g-'nate corresponding parts: Figure 1 is a side elevation of my wheelshowing it as it would appear when in assembled position. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal sectional view taken tubular casings 13. The

pointed out in the through the wheel showing the detail construction andarrangement thereof, and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective viewshowing the detail'arrangement for connecting the sections of the rim.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference the numeral 1designates as an entirety a hub to which is operatively connected aplurality of spokes 2 that are in turn connected at their outer endswith segmental rim sections 8. The segmental rim sections 3 eachcomprise an arcuate body plate i having upstanding tire securing flanges5 on its longitudinal edges. The ends of the flanges 5 are recessed topro vide tongues 6 and grooves 7 which are designed to cooperate witheach other when the sections are fitted to form a rim in overlappingengagement with each other. Each rim section 3 is provided centrally ofits ends with an internally screw threaded nipple 8. The spokes 2 areturned at their outer ends into the screw threaded nipple 8 of thesection 3. A. cushion tire 9 is positioned between the flanges 5 whenthe rim sections 3 are fitted together to form a continuous rim. The hub1 consists of a tubular body portion 10 that is provided centrally ofits ends with an integrally formed circular plate 11 that is disposed atright angles to the support 10 and provided upon its periphery with acircular flange 12. The flange 12 is provided with a plurality of screwthreaded openings into which are turned the inner ends of a plurality oftubular casings 13 receive the spokes 2. The spokes 2 are slidable inthe tubular casings 13 and are held against accidental derangement bymeans of pins 14 that are inserted transversely through the spokes 2 atpoints aproXimately centrally of the ends thereof and at their ends areslidably mounted within opposed longitudinal slots 15 formed in thecasings 13. The free ends of pins 14: terminate flush with relation tothe outer surfaces of the casings 13. The slots 15 are of sufficientlength to permit sliding action of the spokes 2. The tubular casings 13receive approximately two thirds of the spokes 2 thus insuring theproper sliding operation of the spokes and providing strength for thestructure in general.

The inner ends of duced as at 16 and mounted upon thereduced portions 16of the spokes are helical the spokes 2 are re expansion springs 17.These springs bear at their outer terminals upon the shoulders formed bythe reducing of the spokes and at their inner terminals engage the outerends of adjusting members 18. The adjusting members 18 are cup-shapedand externally screw threaded. The adjusting members 18 are turned intothe inner internally screw threaded ends of the tubular casings 13 andprovided with angular faced extensions 19 to provide for engagementthereof with a wrench or other suitable tool.

It Will be readily seen that the adjustment provided the members 18enables the setting of the springs 17 to the desired ten sion. Thereduced portions 16 on each spoke is adapted to extend within thecupshaped adjusting members 18 when the members 18 are moved upwardly toadjust the springs.

It will be readily seen that I have provided a simple and inexpensivespring wheel which is reliable and eflicient in operation and capable ofwithstanding rough usagefor reason of the fact of its strongconstruction.

In practice I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated inthe drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferredembodiment, is the most efficient and practical; yet realizing that theconditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarilyvary,

desire to emphasize the'fact that various a i I I Copies of this patentmay beobtamed for five cents each,

minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement ofparts may be resorted to, when required, without sac-- rificing any ofthe advantages of my invention, as set forth.

What is claimed is A spring wheel comprising a hub having a plurality ofspaced screw threaded openings in the periphery thereof, tubular casingshaving their inner ends externally and internally threaded and turned insaid screw threaded openings in the hub, a rim, a plurality ofcylindrical spokes secured at their outer ends to said rim andpositioned for sliding movement within the casings, means to slidablysecure the spokes to the casings, the inner ends of the spokes beingreduced to provide annular shoulders, helical expansion springs mountedon the reduced portions of the spokes and engaging the shoulders attheir outer ends, externally threaded cup-shaped adjusting membersturned within the externally threaded ends of the tubular casings,engaging the inner ends of the springs, and receiving the reduced endsof the spokes, and angular spaced projections on the inner faces of saidadjusting members.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY S. GOVER. \Vitnesses HARVEY F. l\lrronnLL, ANNA Len W ILSON,

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

